On Wednesday, Russian authorities refuted charges that they coerced African students, notably Nigerians, into fighting in the ongoing battle with Ukraine in exchange for visa extensions.
The Russian Embassy in Nigeria issued a statement describing the claim as fake news and completely unfounded.
It stated that the report could jeopardize educational cooperation between the two countries.
It further noted that no association of Nigerian students in Russia has submitted a report corroborating the claim.
The statement reads: “The Embassy of the Russian Federation is compelled to emphasize that such news is not only false but also damages Russian-Nigerian educational cooperation by misleading numerous scholarship and grant applicants as well as their partners, who could be extremely concerned by such fakes.
“The Embassy states that Nigerian students face no difficulties in extending their visas while continuing their studies in Russia. Numerous associations of Nigerian students in Russia have not reported any issues in obtaining the necessary documentation to continue their stay in the country.
“The Embassy welcomes the official press release of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this matter and expresses gratitude to the Ministry and the Association of Nigerian Students in Moscow for their efforts in debunking the fake news aimed at undermining the friendship and cooperation between Russia and Nigeria.”
